Since I'm working with analog sequencer I found a problem , sometimes it's hard to synchronize my modular with my daw.
The sequencer has his own clock source but it's hard to have an exact BPM

So I starting to thing if could be possible to create a bpm clock source.Something like the clock source on the Yusynth Sample and Hold but with two rotary switches for select a BPM, instead a continuous potentiometer.

So will be something similar like the standars module, but the selected voltage will drive the IC frequency ( maybe a 555 IC ) . Probably I'm mistaken ( my electronic knowledge is limited ) but will be great to have a module like this to an easy integration of modular synthesizers with a digital recording environment.

I imagine that it is possble to create such clock with some CMOS chips, using a high frequency clock and some programmable divider or even simpler with a simple and cheap PIC microcontroller. I will give it some thoughts but cannot promise I will ever design one _________________Yves

Since I'm working with analog sequencer I found a problem , sometimes it's hard to synchronize my modular with my daw.
The sequencer has his own clock source but it's hard to have an exact BPM

Ideally, you really need a MIDI interface on your DAW/Sequencer. You want to set the BPM in your sequencer to some value and set your sequencer to generate MIDI clock. Your module would then accept this MIDI clock. The clock message over MIDI is sent at a rate of 48 ppqn (48 pulses per quarter note). To get a quarter note clock output, your module would then divide by 12. This will will then give you 4 clocks per measure. Dividing by 6 will give you 1/8 notes, by 3 will give you 1/16 notes. This output would then feed the clock input of your sequencer. Now your sequencer will be in perfect synch with your DAW

Ideally, you really need a MIDI interface on your DAW/Sequencer.
I think you can benefit from this here ...
http://m.bareille.free.fr/mc628/mc628.html
If you can build it, I would be willing to program the MCU for you at no charge or anything like that

Bill

Hello Bill,
I have a midi interface, so I can make a midi track on the sequencer and take the gate signal , but voltage is not high enough to control the clock input.
I've built the Yusynth Sample and hold and the clock out works perfect with my MFOS sequencer. The Yusynth "clock out" has over 10V and the gate signal from the interface is 5V.

But when I was thinking about this module I was thinking also to use it as independent master clock. For example if you conect the modular to a FX unit, you could sync the delay FX very easy using the same bpm on the modular.
Another uses could be rhythmic patters if you use it with the clock divider.

Don't need to be only for synchronize the modular with computer, could have a lot of uses.

I use to work with the sample and hold clock, but I will like to have a module dedicated only to generate clock signals, and if could be in bpm will be great ( for the other uses that I've written before )

for example having the DAW running witrh 120BPM but the clock the modular receives would be 8x 120= 960
here is wehre the fun begins.

Well, digital controllers are just as adept at doing multiplication as they do division .... It would be a matter of determining the time it takes between the received ticks and just shrinking that time by 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 .... and sending out clocks at the higher rate. Technically, sure, that would not be a too bad to code up for an experienced programmer.

When you add din-sync24 and/or din-sync48 out on the same module, this would be a great master-clock.
The different module-designers use different trigger-voltages, so adding switches to sellect between 5V and 10V would be awesome.

I am a bit confused and I cannot find clear documentation about it (I don't use DAWs or computer for music, only analogue stuff).
As a matter of fact, say when you select say 60 BPM with the two rotaries what do you expect to have at the clock output ? A square pulse 0/10V with which frequency is 1Hz (1/60BPM) or 4Hz or 24Hz ?_________________Yves

I was confused because I was expecting 1Hz but when I checked what was sent by a MIDI clock programmed set to 60BPM I had a 1Hz blinking LED indicator but a flow of 24 pulses per second on the electrical output. Therefore, in the suggested module for 60 BPM the circuit should deliver 1 pulse per second._________________Yves

I was confused because I was expecting 1Hz but when I checked what was sent by a MIDI clock programmed set to 60BPM I had a 1Hz blinking LED indicator but a flow of 24 pulses per second on the electrical output. Therefore, in the suggested module for 60 BPM the circuit should deliver 1 pulse per second.

Got it ... A handy chip that I had gotten, because I did not want to re-invent the code, it the MIDI clock to DIN sync chip from Blacet:

This is a neat little programmed PIC chip that reads MIDI Start, Stop, Continue and Clock pulses and outputs a Run signal (gate), a Start pulse (sequence reset) and clock pulses at the MIDI standard of 24 pulses per quarter note. All three signals are available normal or inverted from the ICs 6 outputs.

Use it for DIN sync applications or to run analog sequencers. Only a few extra components are needed for the basic circuit.

When using this chip, if you feed it a MIDI clock, it will NOT generate any 24 PPQN pulses until it receives a START message from your sequencer. The STOP message will inhibit the sync pulses. I never really saw how stable it was in terms of timing jitter on a busy MIDI bus. I would be interested to see that specification. To thin the data, I use more than one MIDI OUTPUT to share the data load.

Although for sync different gear, eg the DAW and the modular, I think that it will be better do it under only one clock.

I really have to agree with this statement by SOUND. Ideally you want one clock source instead of two to synchronize your DAW and Modular.

I am leaning towards the digital controller solution to generate clock pulses from MIDI clock data stream. I say this because using a circuit that picks up audio "pips" from your sound card just seems like lots of work to me. This is just my opinion and that really does seem like a cool experiment, and rather clever, but probably none that I would do. I would imagine years ago, a track was dedicated on tape with audio "pips" to synchronize gear? No?

Good thread ... I am sure good things will come from it and ZONE in on the module in the original post.

At times when I have no computer in my setup, I use my Korg EM-1 as a master clock source, then go to MIDI2CV and clock my modular and Klee sequencer from that. I usually dedicate one drum track to send out notes either on a regular beat (1/4, 1/8, 1/16, etc ..) OR send out any pattern of notes I wish. Another track is assigned strictly for sequencer RESET or LOAD pulses so that I may truncate sequences on the fly. I can place a LOAD for the sequencer anywhere I like within the 4 measures allowed on the EM-1. Now I can stutter the Klee if I want. The sequences then get intense and it adds good change ups so things don't get boring. !!

I am a bit confused and I cannot find clear documentation about it (I don't use DAWs or computer for music, only analogue stuff).
As a matter of fact, say when you select say 60 BPM with the two rotaries what do you expect to have at the clock output ? A square pulse 0/10V with which frequency is 1Hz (1/60BPM) or 4Hz or 24Hz ?

Sorry for not reply, I've been out for few days. I think that my original idea is been mixing with other ideas. My original idea was a simple clock source with the rate expressed in BMP. Is the same idea behind the "CV Standars" module, instead using a continuous frequency control, provide quantized pitch sources.

I don't want to do any midi sync, firmware etc. Just control the clock rate instead using a continuous pot use two rotary Switch selector ( one for the tens and the other for the unis ) .

To select 124 bmp you should do this :

First rotary = 12
Second rotary = 4

Plus the two voltages and you will have the control voltage for the clock . I think that it maybe it could be made using same circuit that is on the on the "sample and hold" module but changing the control part for the TL071.

When you have 60bmp selected you should have a 1hz signal, 70bpm -> 1,16666 hz , 80bpm -> 1,3333

As you can see is lineal relation between bpm and hz. The increase is 0.0166666 hz every bpm unit.

Some thought on this idea.
First, as it is time related and the clock signal is an oscillator, you want incredible temperature stability (at least when you use quantised volts). I think the only way to implement this stability (when not stable 120bpm is sometimes 118 and sometimes 122 or worse?) is to go digital. Like a digital controlled oscillator. And when you go digital, it's easy to implement a midi-clock too.

Some thought on this idea.
First, as it is time related and the clock signal is an oscillator, you want incredible temperature stability (at least when you use quantised volts). I think the only way to implement this stability (when not stable 120bpm is sometimes 118 and sometimes 122 or worse?) is to go digital. Like a digital controlled oscillator. And when you go digital, it's easy to implement a midi-clock too.

Using a V/Hz analog VC-LFO is OK for temperature stability._________________Yves

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